Caroline Lucas told Miss Thunberg: “I hope this will be the beginning of an ongoing dialogue with young people.

“I think all of us are really committed to trying to ensure that there’s an ongoing way to really make sure that all of our policies and all of our work in Parliament is properly scrutinised by young people with a perspective on climate in particular.

“We want young people’s voices to be heard in Parliament. This is such an important moment, when the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change say we have just 11 years left to get off the collision course we are on for climate catastrophe.

“That sense of urgency is here as never before, at a time when there have been protests on the streets not just of London but around the country and all the different nations of the UK. More than ever, politicians have our ears open to your message.”